Open AccessElevated serum aspartate aminotransferase level identifies patients with coronavirus disease 2019 and predicts the length of hospital stay
Author(s) -
Gu Xuexiang,
Li Xiangyu,
An Xusheng,
Yang Shufeng,
Wu Shangg,
Yang Xiaozhong,
Wang Honggang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.23391
Subject(s) - medicine , alanine transaminase , aspartate transaminase , gastroenterology , covid-19 , alanine aminotransferase , albumin , clinical significance , blood test , liver disease , transaminase , gamma glutamyltransferase , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , alkaline phosphatase , enzyme , biology , biochemistry
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has become a worldwide public health emergency. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of liver blood tests in COVID‐19 patients. Methods The analysis included clinical data of 23 patients with suspected COVID‐19 and 66 patients with confirmed COVID‐19 from January 25 to February 20, 2020. The relationship between liver blood test results, liver condition (HBsAb positive, HBcAb positive, and fatty liver disease), and duration of hospital stay among COVID‐19 patients was analyzed. Results The median hospital stay of COVID‐19 patients was 6 days. Serum albumin (Alb) level was lower in patients with COVID‐19 confirmed on admission than in patients with suspected COVID‐19 (40.08 g/L vs 42.50 g/L, P = .016), while the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was higher (23 U/L vs 18 U/L, P = .005). Abnormal results of liver blood tests in patients with COVID‐19 included increased levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) (21.2%, 14 patients), AST (15.2%, 10 patients), and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (22.7%, 15 patients). After 5‐10 days of treatment, levels of Alb and AST in COVID‐19 patients were significantly decreased ( P < .001 and P = .027, respectively). Abnormal levels of Alb and AST in patients with COVID‐19 were not associated with the liver condition (all P > .05). In addition, only levels of AST were positively correlated with the duration of hospital stay ( r = .334, P = .007). Conclusion Abnormal results of the liver blood test were found in COVID‐19 patients. The COVID‐19 patients on admission with the higher levels of AST might have longer hospital stays.